“I’m sure McLaren will challenge Red Bull and Mercedes”, says Emerson Fittipaldi

Harry Sadoun Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Prior to the Formula 1 season kicking off in Bahrain this weekend, we sat down with two time Formula 1 World Champion & Indianapolis 500 winner, Émerson Fittipaldi. The Brazilian legend discussed his expectations for the upcoming season, how George Russell will do at Mercedes and why we don’t really know what will happen this weekend. He also talked about Haas going into a new season with Kevin Magnussen back on the team and lastly shared his thoughts on the final race of last season.

Early predictions - are we going to see a similar battle this season between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, or is there someone else out there that can challenge these two?

“I expect McLaren and Ferrari to be very fast this year. I think those two will be the surprises this season.”

“If you look at the last three years, the progression McLaren have made has been incredible. And I know Ferrari have been working very consistently last season to prepare the new car for the new rules.”

“In my opinion, we are going to have a surprise from McLaren.”

“Mercedes and (Max) Verstappen will be competing, for sure. But I think it will be possible that we see a minimum of two more teams up there at their level. Because when you make a new rule, it equalises everybody. Everyone is in the same boat.”

“I'm sure McLaren will challenge Red Bull and Mercedes. McLaren had some very good results last year and they are running strong. They have a new organisation. Everything is looking good. Lando Norris is extremely fast. Daniel Ricciardo is a racer. He's always there and he's fast as well. I think it will be a very interesting year. And we can have even more surprises from other teams. But I'm sure McLaren will be strong - the same with Ferrari.”

“I think McLaren have been working a lot on the new rules for the new car since last year. They have the capacity, the experience, they have a strong history and background, and under Zac Brown they have redone the team - they are much stronger than before.”

What are your expectations from new Mercedes driver George Russell this season? Will he have any trouble fitting in?

“I think for what we saw last year, George Russell in Bahrain showed his potential as a driver. He put on a show at that race. Amazing. And I'm sure he'll be very close to Lewis, with less experience in the team. I would say that you need two or three Grands Prix to adapt yourself to the team. But he'll challenge Lewis in my opinion. He's very talented and an aggressive driver.”

“He's been running well in the Williams car. We know how much he made surprises in the Williams racer.”

“This season should be one of the most exciting seasons in the history of Formula 1.”

For this race in Bahrain, who do you think will win it and who will surprise us the most?

“We never know exactly what the teams are doing, like how much fuel they had on board when they did the lap times and so on. I think for sure, after the qualifiers, we'll know exactly where they are at. So far we can have a big surprise. It's difficult to say at this stage. We'll have to wait for the qualifiers to be sure.”

“Should be an exciting qualifier, because the whole world will be looking at who's going to be competitive. Because on Saturday when the qualifiers are happening, the drivers will be racing at 110%, the teams will have the cars developed properly. There will be some surprises at the qualifiers for sure.”

What are your thoughts and expectations for Haas this week with their new setup? How much will they improve this season and what do you think of their decision to replace Nikita Mazepin with Kevin Magnussen?

“They have been very fast in practice. But you know, it's difficult to see what tires they use and how much fuel they use, everythings is very complex before the qualifiers.” 

“If you look at it from the team's perspective, with Kevin Magnussen they knew exactly what they were getting, how he works and how he performs. His experience of the team is the exact opposite of that of George Russell at Mercedes. Kevin is going back to his team. They know him, his capacity and his talent.“

“I was disappointed for Pietro for sure, because he is the reserve driver, but they made the decision with Kevin because they felt it was the best for the team right now. And you have to respect that, because they know more that we do about the capacity, talent and experience of Kevin. Kevin did really well and I hope the car will be faster this time. It will be interesting to see Kevin and Mick Schumacher running together.” 

“There could be another surprise there. The new rules can have some big surprises. McLaren doing well would not be a big surprise, because of their recent progression - going up, up, up. But Haas could be a big surprise for everybody. Could be one of the teams to make a big surprise.”

Do you think Mercedes put pressure on the FIA to replace Michael Masi as race director?

“My opinion is that the rules say that he could do what he did. It was very controversial for sure.”

When I saw (Max) Verstappen coming to the pit, my first impression was that they made a mistake and that decision lost them the championship. Nobody could prevent the crash and that they were going to be behind a safety car. And he (Michael Masi) did what the book said he could do. That's part of the sport and excitement in my opinion. Could have been the reverse - Lewis Hamilton coming to the pit and Max winning, and Lewis overtaking Max.”

“I did 12 seasons at IndyCar and this happened very often. The only guy who doesn't like the safety car is the leader. Everybody else loves it and are smiling inside the cockpit. That's part of the sport and the show. Not everybody can be happy, because things will happen against you - circumstances are against you. That's a part of life. Part of the sport.”

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Harry Sadoun

Harry Sadoun is a seasoned sports betting expert with a wealth of experience in the iGaming and sports betting industry. Over the past 5 years, he has established himself as a go-to source for insightful analysis and predictions at Vegasinsider. With a passion for sports, Harry specializes in football, basketball, tennis, rugby, and soccer, showcasing a diverse understanding of athletic competitions. Harry's unique approach to sports betting is rooted in a combination of statistical analysis, in-depth research, and a keen understanding of the dynamics that influence game outcomes. His expert opinions and strategic insights have made him a trusted voice in the industry, guiding both novice and seasoned bettors alike. With an unwavering commitment to delivering accurate and up-to-date information, Harry Sadoun continues to be a prominent figure in the world of sports betting, providing enthusiasts with the tools they need to make informed decisions. More from Harry Sadoun